Built on the permafrost and rugged terrain of the lofty Tibetan Plateau, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, averaging 4,000m above sea level, is an engineering marvel and a much sought-after journey for travelers heading to Tibet on the roof of the world.

So, what are the price ranges of different classes of Tibet train tickets? How to buy and where to collect them? In this travel guide, we offer you a complete guide to Qinghai-Tibet Railway ticket prices, so you can easily secure your Tibet train tickets for the epic Tibet train journey to the holy Lhasa city.

Three Price Ranges of Qinghai-Tibet Railway Ticket Price: Soft Sleeper, Hard Sleeper, Hard Seat

The Qinghai-Tibet Railway or Tibet train offers three types of carriages to accommodate passengers: hard seat, hard sleeper, and soft sleeper, each providing travelers with different levels of comfort and facilities. As a result, you can select from these three price ranges for Qinghai-Tibet Railway tickets.

Soft Sleeper is the most expensive and highly-demanded Tibet train ticket, offering maximum privacy and comfort for your Tibet train journey. Your money is well-spent and here is why:

The soft sleeper berth consists of four beds with the most spacious room. Each bed has an individual TV and you can store your luggage in a console over the door or lock the door of your soft sleeper for privacy. Besides, an oxygen supply outlet and clothes hanger are also available and you can enjoy Western-style toilets in the restrooms of soft-sleeper carriages.

The spacious soft sleeper with privacy and the best comfort on Tibet train.

Take the Beijing to Lhasa train, for example, the soft sleeper ticket sells at ¥1144.0/ $161 for the upper bunk and at ¥1186/$167 for the lower bunk. Check all the Tibet train schedules and fares.

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Hard Sleeper strikes a perfect balance between cost and comfort and can accommodate up to six passengers, which is best suited for sociable travelers.

The hard sleeper berth features six-berth compartments with triple-tier bunks. As opposed to the soft sleeper, there is no door in the hard sleeper berth. Bedding is provided. You can have luggage stored in a shared console over the door or under the bottom bunks. With more travelers in the same sleeper, you will make friends with friendly and chatty berthmates.

The hard sleeper berth on Tibet train with six bunks.

Take the Beijing to Lhasa train, for example, the hard sleeper tickets are priced at ¥720/ $101 for the upper bunk, ¥742/$104 for the middle bunk, and ¥763/$107 for the lower bunk.

Hard Seat is the cheapest and least comfortable way to travel on the Tibet train, as you sit on upright and stiff seats that are not adjustable, together with other 97 passengers in a single carriage. It's not recommended unless you're traveling a short distance.

For the Beijing to Lhasa train, the hard seat ticket only costs you ¥360/$51. The sacrifice you’ve made is the comfort and good sleep. Also, learn the top 20 faqs for the Qinghai-Tibet Railway journey.

The Hard Seat of Tibet Trains.

How to Buy Qinghai-Tibet Railway Tickets? Online, Train Station, and Tibet Vista

Once you’ve decided to take the Tibet train to Lhasa, be sure to book Tibet train tickets as early as possible. Currently, you can book Tibet train tickets 15 days earlier before you leave for Lhasa.

There are three reliable ways to buy train tickets, i.e. through the China Railway’s official website, at the train station, and via a local Tibet travel agency like Tibet Vista.

Booking Qinghai-Tibet train tickets through China Railway’s official website (www.12306.cn) is the most popular way for domestic travelers. It also has an English version webpage and a mobile app for global travelers. To book the ticket, you need to sign up free for your account and verify your identity through passport information. Then pay through your Chinese bank account to secure the train ticket. A great alternative is through Trip.com, where you have more payments, such as Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Apple Pay, and more options.

China Railway’s official English website selling Beijing to Lhasa train tickets.

If you are an expat living in China or already in China, you may also purchase the Tibet train ticket at the railway station. However, don’t expect to buy it on your departure date to Tibet since during the high season of Tibet travel (April to October), soft and hard sleeper train tickets are in short supply and extremely difficult to book yourself.

So, to increase your chances of getting the Tibet train tickets, you may depend on a local Tibet travel agency like Tibet Vista, esp. during the high season and major holidays. Of course, to secure your Tibet train tickets, an additional service fee is involved.

Where to Collect Your Qinghai-Tibet Railway Tickets?

Nowadays, if you've successfully booked your Tibet train ticket on China Railway’s official website (www.12306.cn), mobile app (Railway 12306), or Trip.com, you may get an E-ticket for a Tibet train ticket. For overseas travelers, all you need to do is show your E-ticket and passport, together with a Tibet Travel Permit to board the train to Tibet at the railway station.

If you’ve booked your Tibet train ticket with us, we will manage to deliver the train ticket (E-ticket or printed paper train ticket) to you in person or by SF Express. You can use a train ticket, a valid passport, and your Tibet train permit to enter the railway station and board the train.

The printed soft sleeper Tibet train ticket.

Make sure you arrive at the railway station one hour earlier than the departure time since you will go through multiple security checkpoints and there will always be a long line at the train station in China.

Two Best Alternatives If Qinghai-Tibet Railway Tickets Were Sold Out

If Tibet train tickets from your current city in China are sold out but you still want to experience the Tibet train ride to Lhasa, here are two great workarounds for you.

Firstly, ask your travel agent or check online to find out if Tibet train tickets from other cities remain available. If so, you can book the train ticket and break your journey into two legs. For example, fly or take a bullet train from Beijing to Chengdu, Xi’an, or Xining ( the best highlights of the Tibet train journey) and then board the Tibet train to Lhasa.

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If there is no way to book a Tibet train ticket during the high season, you can book the outward Tibet train to inland Chinese cities after you finish touring Tibet. It’s more readily available and you can still enjoy the epic train ride on the way back, free of altitude sickness.

Can I Buy Qinghai-Tibet Railway Tickets for Others? Yes, But It’s a Bit Tricky

Well, theoretically, yes! At the train station, you can take the original passports of your family members and friends and purchase the Tibet train tickets if they remain available.

If you use online platforms, you need to fill out the passenger information form and verify each passenger’s information, then you can add all passengers and buy all the Qinghai-Tibet Railway tickets needed, which is extremely time-consuming.

Beyond Qinghai-Tibet Railway Tickets: You Deserve the Best Local Tibet Travel Services

For overseas travelers who plan to take the Qinghai-Tibet Railway to Tibet, successfully booking the Tibet train ticket is only half the battle. You have to pre-book your guided Tibet tour via a local Tibet travel agency like us, which will help you apply for the Tibet Travel Permit needed to board the Tibet train or flight to Lhasa, according to the Tibet travel policy.

As the largest local Tibet travel agency since 1984 with offices in Lhasa, Chengdu, and Kathmandu, we can not only help you secure Tibet train tickets but also provide you with diverse budget-friendly Tibet small group tours and fully customizable private tours to explore Tibet to your heart’s content.

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You can enjoy our one-stop service to book a Tibet train journey and get all the travel documents needed. The best part of your Tibet adventure is that you can travel with our seasoned local Tibetan guides and experienced local drivers for an immersive travel experience in Tibet. With online and local travel service managers, together with a proactive & attentive team behind, a thrilling and safe Tibet journey rests in your hands.

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Conclusion

In a nutshell, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway ticket price falls into three categories: soft sleeper, hard sleeper, and hard seat. A soft sleeper ticket is the most expensive one with the best comfort. While hard sleeper is the perfect blend of cost and comfort. A hard seat is not recommended. You can use China Railway’s official website or our service to book a Tibet train ticket. If you have more questions about the Tibet journey, please feel free to email us for free and expert travel solutions. Cheers!